After some last-minute tinkering, SZA has kept good on her promise and unleashed Lana on the world. Billed as the deluxe edition to her ambitious and record-shattering 2022 sophomore effort SOS, Lana is instead a behemoth new project in its own right. With 15 new songs and a feature from Kendrick Lamar, the deluxe plays out like an entirely new chapter, as SZA tackles themes of loneliness, imposter syndrome, and of course heartbreak, with a gentler touch.
SZA fans have been unbelievably patient throughout Lana’s long-winded journey, which began back in 2022 when the TDE singer teased it on Instagram after the release of SOS. Nine Grammy nominations later, SZA officially announced Lana during an invite-only celebration show at Brooklyn’s Navy Yard last September, before returning with the project’s first single “Saturn” in February of 2024.
From there, SZA spent the rest of 2024 merely confirming Lana’s existence via interviews and a viral appearance on Hot Ones, refusing to confirm any release date. Musically, she was just as quiet. She linked with K-Dot last month for his standout tracks “luther” and “gloria” off his surprise GTX project, but otherwise she’s kept fans starved for new tunes. Finally, in December, SZA and Kendrick announced their Grand National Tour, and the former unleashed her new single “Drive” ahead of today’s release. Needless to say, SZA’s supporters are finally feasting today, and TDE fans now have plenty of new music to memorize before Kendrick and SZA hit the road next April.
With 15 songs to comb through, check out Billboard’s ranking of the best songs on Lana below.
